Factors associated with intent to quit tobacco use in Cyprus adolescents

Elena Charis G Savvides; Costas A Christophi; Martha Paisi; Despina Pampaka; Taru Kinnunen; Gregory N Connolly

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.12.016

Factors associated with intent to quit tobacco use in Cyprus adolescents

Prev Med. 2014 Mar:60:83-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.12.016. Epub 2013 Dec 24.

Authors

Elena Charis G Savvides¹, Costas A Christophi², Martha Paisi³, Despina Pampaka⁴, Taru Kinnunen⁵, Gregory N Connolly⁶

Affiliations

¹ Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health in association with Harvard School of Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, 95 Irinis Street, 3041 Limassol, Cyprus. Electronic address: esavvides@gmail.com.
² Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health in association with Harvard School of Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, 95 Irinis Street, 3041 Limassol, Cyprus; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: costas.christophi@cut.ac.cy.
³ Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health in association with Harvard School of Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, 95 Irinis Street, 3041 Limassol, Cyprus. Electronic address: martha.paisi@cut.ac.cy.
⁴ Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health in association with Harvard School of Public Health, Cyprus University of Technology, 95 Irinis Street, 3041 Limassol, Cyprus. Electronic address: despina.pampaka@cut.ac.cy.
⁵ Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: taru_Kinnunen@hsdm.harvard.edu.
⁶ Division of Public Health Practice, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: gconnoll@hsph.harvard.edu.

PMID: 24370457
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.12.016

Abstract

Objectives: To identify factors associated with adolescent smokers' desire to quit based on the 2006 Cyprus Global Youth Tobacco Survey.

Methods: A cluster sample design was used to select a representative sample of students from all registered middle and high schools in Cyprus with >40 students in academic year 2005-2006. Multivariable logistic regression was used taking into account the weight associated with each of the respondents.

Results: Out of the total sample with available information (N=12,629), 1591 students were current smokers (weighted frequency=14%) and were included in the analysis, with 734 (46.1%) of them reporting that they want to quit smoking. In both males and females, strong predictors of intention to quit smoking include past quit attempts and physical activity. Intention to quit is also associated with the belief that smoking is harmful to them and inversely associated with having peers who smoke, in boys, and the belief that smoking is harmful to others and perceiving smokers as less attractive, and inversely associated with pocket money, in girls.

Conclusions: The present study has identified factors that appear to influence youth's intention to quit tobacco, which is of major importance in developing successful tobacco cessation programs targeting adolescents.

Keywords: Cigarette smoking; Cyprus; Global Youth Tobacco Survey; Intention to quit; Smoking cessation; Youth smoking.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior*
Cluster Analysis
Cyprus / epidemiology
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Intention
Logistic Models
Male
Multivariate Analysis
Population Surveillance
Prevalence
Schools*
Smoking / epidemiology
Smoking Cessation / psychology*
Smoking Prevention
Students / statistics & numerical data*
Tobacco Smoke Pollution / prevention & control

Substances

Tobacco Smoke Pollution